Ready for Action

A stay at 381 Cremorne’s superb boutique accommodation suits those who love fine food and excellent shopping, but it’s also tailor-made for sporting types, being so close to all of Melbourne’s world-class stadia and facilities.

You are spoiled for choice for your early-morning jog, with not only the option of heading towards the MCG across the wide open spaces of Gosch’s Paddock but also it’s an easy distance down to the riverside.

The Cremorne and Richmond section of the Yarra Trail walking and cycling track follows the big loop of the river as it emerges from the city with the Botanic Gardens on one side and the sports precinct on the other.

It dips under the Victoria Bridge at Church Street, then crosses under the Citylink freeway just at the point where you can see Herring Island in the middle of the river.

Herring is actually made out of the rubble of the quarry which supplied the stone for Richmond’s streets, and it used to be a boy scouts’ camp. It’s named after Sir Edward Herring who was a Victorian chief justice and also the president of the Boy Scouts’ Association. It became a public park in 1994, with an ongoing revegetation plan as well as becoming home to an Environmental Sculpture Park. It’s only accessible by boat, either from the Richmond side at Burnley or from the South Yarra side from the grounds of historic Como House.

But back at the trail … as it bends under the freeway, it is shadowed by huge pylon supports, and several of these have been used to create the Burnley Bouldering Wall. Parks Victoria teamed with the Victorian Climbing Club to create this free and accessible wall, so it’s both well-designed and good for both kids and grownups, complete with rubber matting for a soft landing.

If you keep following the Yarra Trail, it loops around Richmond, taking in the Kevin Bartlett sportsground, named after perhaps the most adored Tigers footballer of all time, and back towards the Victoria Gardens shopping centre before meandering up towards Abbotsford.

You can rent a bike at Federation Square (0417 339 203) or there’s the Livelo service (ph.1800 248 300) that will deliver your rental bike to you.